Bertina Ceccarelli Featured Panelist for Urban Alliance’s Session at SXSW EDU 2023

Bertina Ceccarelli was a featured panelist during SXSW EDU 2023 during Urban Alliance’s Creating Unique Partnerships to Uplift Communities panel on March 7 at 2:30 p.m. CT. This panel discussed how partnership innovation leads to long-term impact. View image highlights of the engaging conversation below.

Creating Unique Partnerships to Uplift Communities

Partnerships are key to creating measurable positive outcomes for young people and exponentially increasing impact for communities. Beyond the classroom, work-based paid internships, on-the-job mentoring, hands-on skills training, and professional development can lead to economic mobility. This panel of experts will share how they are building public, private and nonprofit sector partnerships to provide young adults equitable opportunities to earn a living wage, and make lifelong connections.

“The work that we do today at NPower, many of our students are very tech-inclined, passionate about technology,
and If we can expose those doors and help to guide the direction that leads to opening them
and then once they’re inside, help them climb up those stairs to the next floor or the floor after that...
My wish is that we could do more of it in more places around the country.”

Bertina Ceccarelli

CEO, NPower

Speakers

Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D, Executive Director, Urban Alliance Chicago

Michael Akin, President, LINK Strategic Partners

Bertina Ceccarelli, CEO, NPower

Michael Strautmanis, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Obama Foundation

Digital Equity for the Next Gen

It’s time to challenge the assumption that all young people are “digital natives” and “good at tech” and see the reality. When we think about connecting the next gen workforce with technology, there is a disconnect. The digital divide still exists, especially among young people of color, and it was magnified even more during the pandemic. Many lack access to home internet, the devices they need, and digital skills training. How can we increase digital equity so those being left behind can be plugged into future work opportunities? These leaders will share strategic and holistic approaches that work to expand opportunities and build a more diverse and tech-trained future workforce.